Hydrangea barbara

RHS Plant Profile

climbing hydrangea

RHS / Janet Cubey

Other common names

wood vamp

Synonyms

Decumaria barbara

Climber Wall Shrub

Buy this from Plant Nurseries
3 Suppliers

A woody, deciduous, self-clinging climber with glossy, dark green leaves and clusters of small, fluffy, white flowers in summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

8-12 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height: 8-12 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: West–facing or South–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H4

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Hydrangeaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Climbing
Potentially harmful: Skin allergen. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets (dogs, cats): Harmful if eaten. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Hydrangea can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs, or self-clinging climbers, with flowers in clusters usually comprising both small fertile and more showy sterile flowers; often good autumn colour
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: SE USA

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow on a wall, or as ground cover. Requires reasonably fertile, preferably loamy, well-drained soil in sun or partial shade, sheltered from cold winds and frost

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings in late summer or early autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Wall side borders
Ground cover

Pruning

Pruning group 13

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, capsid bug, hydrangea scale and vine weevil

Diseases

May be susceptible to a leaf spot, powdery mildews, grey moulds (Botrytis) and honey fungus (rarely)